Prague in 3 Days — Castle, Bridge, Beer

Activities

1. 09:00 Prague Castle complex 3.5 hours

   World's largest ancient castle complex (70,000 m²) — seat of Czech kings since the 9th century. St Vitus Cathedral (free), Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica, Golden Lane.

   Cost: Castle Circuit B Kč250 / $11; Cathedral free TIP: Pre-book online to skip queues. Enter via Hradčanské náměstí for the noon Changing of the Guard ceremony. Climb the 287-step Great South Tower for Prague's best aerial view (Kč150 / $7).
2. 12:30 Lunch at Mala Strana traditional pub 1.5 hours

   Czech traditional lunch at U Krále Brabantského (1375-founded inn) or Lokál U Bílé kuželky (Mala Strana Lokál branch).

   Cost: $13-25 TIP: Svíčková (beef in cream sauce with bread dumplings, Kč245 / $11) is the canonical Czech dish. Pilsner Urquell 'tankové' Kč55 / $2.40 for 0.5L.
3. 14:30 John Lennon Wall + Mala Strana walk 2 hours

   Graffiti wall covered in Beatles lyrics + peace messages since 1980s Communist resistance. Combine with Mala Strana neighborhood walk + St Nicholas Church.

   Cost: Free; St Nicholas Kč120 / $5 TIP: St Nicholas Church Mala Strana has the most-baroque interior in Czechia. The Vrtbovská zahrada terraced garden (Kč120 / $5) is a hidden 1720s gem most tourists miss.
4. 17:00 Charles Bridge crossing (sunset timing) 1 hour

   1357 stone bridge over the Vltava — 30 Baroque saint statues line both sides. Free, open 24/7. Sunset is the most-photographed time despite crowds.

   Cost: Free; bridge tower climb Kč190 / $8 TIP: Touch the bronze plaque of St John of Nepomuk for good luck. Climb Old Town Bridge Tower for the canonical Charles Bridge + Castle photo. Pickpocket warning at peak hours.
5. 19:00 Dinner at Lokál Dlouhááá 2 hours

   Modern-traditional Czech pub by Ambiente group — the canonical 'real Czech pub' for Prague. Long shared wooden tables, unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell from horizontal tanks.

   Cost: $13-25 TIP: No reservations for groups under 6 — walk-in 20-40 min weekend evening. Goulash Kč245 / $11 + Pilsner Urquell tankové Kč55 / $2.40 = canonical first Prague dinner.
6. 21:30 Old Town Square night walk 45 min

   Old Town Square illuminated at night with the Astronomical Clock + Týn Church spires. The Christmas markets are here November-January.

   Cost: Free TIP: Astronomical Clock final chime at 21:00 — arrive 20:55 for the apostles procession. Type Town from Charles Bridge is the most-photographed Prague night walk.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Old Town Square + Astronomical Clock 1.5 hours

   Historic center with the 1410 Astronomical Clock — world's oldest still-operating. Hourly chime features procession of 12 apostles + skeleton. Týn Church Gothic spires anchor the square.

   Cost: Free; Old Town Hall Tower climb Kč300 / $13 TIP: Arrive 5 minutes before any hour for the apostles procession — it's only 45 seconds. Climb Old Town Hall Tower for the canonical aerial photo. The 9:00 chime is the best-lit.
2. 10:30 Jewish Quarter (Josefov) deep visit 2.5 hours

   6 synagogues + Old Jewish Cemetery + 12,000+ tombstones stacked 12 layers deep. Pinkas Synagogue (Holocaust memorial with 80,000 Czech victim names). Spanish Synagogue (Moorish-style 1868 interior).

   Cost: Combined ticket Kč550 / $24 TIP: Closed Saturday + Jewish holidays. Buy combined ticket online (saves queueing). Pinkas Synagogue Holocaust memorial is the emotional core — not for young children. The Spanish Synagogue is the most-visually-stunning.
3. 13:30 Lunch at Sisters Bistro (chlebíčky) 1 hour

   Modern revival of the chlebíček (Czech open-face sandwich tradition). 12+ varieties on house-baked bread — roast beef + horseradish, egg salad, pickled herring + apple.

   Cost: $8-18 TIP: Walk-in only — small standing-room. Order 3-4 chlebíčky Kč60-90 each. Czech Moravian white wine Kč80 / $3.50 per glass. The Dlouhá location is the original.
4. 15:00 Wenceslas Square + Mucha Museum (optional) 1.5 hours

   750-meter sloping boulevard from St Wenceslas statue + National Museum down to Můstek. Site of 1989 Velvet Revolution. Modern commercial Prague.

   Cost: Free; Mucha Museum Kč280 / $12; National Museum Kč290 / $13 TIP: Walk top-to-bottom (statue → Můstek metro). Pickpocket and tourist-scam zone — watch for fake Rolex sellers + 'student survey' approaches. Mucha Museum has Alfons Mucha Art Nouveau originals.
5. 17:00 Powder Tower + Municipal House 1 hour

   1475 Gothic gate tower + Art Nouveau Municipal House (1912) housing Smetana Hall. The Municipal House interior tour is the canonical Art Nouveau experience.

   Cost: Powder Tower Kč150 / $7; Municipal House tour Kč290 / $13 TIP: Combined ticket Kč400 / $17 covers both. Smetana Hall (inside Municipal House) hosts classical music concerts — €30-60 for evening performance.
6. 19:00 Dinner at U Fleku (1499 beer hall) 2 hours

   1499-founded brewery + restaurant — one of Prague's oldest, brewing the same dark lager (Flekovský ležák 13°) since 1499. 10-room beer hall seats 1,200.

   Cost: $18-35 TIP: Walk-in only. The dark lager Kč80 / $3.50 is the only beer. Watch your tab — servers push Becherovka shots without asking. Politely refuse with 'ne, děkuji'. Cash preferred. Touristy but the history is real.
7. 21:30 Optional: Smetana Hall classical concert 2 hours

   Classical music concert at Municipal House Smetana Hall (1912 Art Nouveau) — Czech composers (Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček) by Prague Symphony Orchestra.

   Cost: $30-80 TIP: Book online 1-2 weeks ahead. Smart-casual dress code. The interior is the entire experience — Smetana Hall is one of Europe's most-photographed concert halls.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Train + bus to Český Krumlov OR Kutná Hora Half day

   Český Krumlov: UNESCO Renaissance-Baroque town on the Vltava (3 hours south). Kutná Hora: UNESCO town with Sedlec Ossuary 'Bone Church' decorated with 40,000+ human bones (1 hour east).

   Cost: Český Krumlov: $80-120 day tour or $35 train+bus; Kutná Hora: $9 train + Ossuary Kč190 / $8 TIP: Český Krumlov: day tours (€80-120) include transport + lunch + guide — easier logistics. Independent: bus from Prague Florenc to Český Krumlov (3 hours each way). Kutná Hora: 55-min train from Praha hlavní nádraží + 15-min walk or 5-min bus to Sedlec Ossuary.
2. 12:00 Český Krumlov / Kutná Hora exploration 4-5 hours

   Český Krumlov: 13th-century castle (Czechia's 2nd largest), Renaissance-Baroque old town, Vltava River meanders. Kutná Hora: Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) + St Barbara's Cathedral (Gothic, UNESCO) + medieval silver-mining town.

   Cost: Český Krumlov castle Kč280 / $12; Kutná Hora Sedlec Ossuary + St Barbara's combined Kč370 / $16 TIP: Český Krumlov: avoid 11:00-15:00 peak day-tour crowds — visit before 10:30 or stay overnight to see empty town after 17:00. Kutná Hora: Sedlec Ossuary is small (one chapel, 30 min) — combine with St Barbara's Cathedral + 1-hour Kutná Hora old town walk.
3. 17:00 Return to Prague 1.5-3 hours

   Train + bus back to Prague Centraal Station.

   Cost: Covered TIP: Český Krumlov return: bus from Český Krumlov to Prague Florenc (3 hours). Kutná Hora: train back (55 min). Plan return arrival before 19:00 for dinner in Prague.
4. 19:30 Farewell dinner at Field (Michelin) 3 hours

   Prague's Michelin-starred modern Czech restaurant — 7-course tasting menu using Czech ingredients with French technique. Chef Radek Kašpárek's reinterpretation of Czech classics.

   Cost: $80-140 TIP: Reserve 4-6 weeks ahead. 7-course Kč2,950 / $128; Czech wine pairing Kč1,650 / $72 — Czech Moravian wines are dramatically underrated. Smart-casual dress; jacket suggested.
5. 22:30 Final Charles Bridge night walk 30 min

   Empty (or near-empty) Charles Bridge at night with illuminated 30 Baroque saint statues. The canonical Prague farewell photo.

   Cost: Free TIP: After 22:00 the bridge is quiet — best night photos. Stay alert for pickpockets even late. Pair with riverbank walk by Náplavka.

Meal Recommendations